A year after the Chima Igwe, the former Director General of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO), was found to have used a fake Ph.D. certificate to lead the institute for 18 years, the Human and Environmental and Development Agenda (HEDA) is asking the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses (ICPC) to make him return earnings he received with the fake qualifications.

Igwe had tendered the fake certifcate to the research institute and received promotions multiple times until he was removed last year.

In a statement it released on Monday, HEDA is also asking the ICPC to arrest and prosecute Igwe.

HEDA recalled that the ICPC investigation had indicted Igwe but he still remains a key member of staff of the institute.

“Under the fake claim, he had worked for 18 years at the country’s foremost research institute, rising through the ladder with the same forged document,” the organisation said in the statement, signed by its Chairman, Suraj Olanrewaju.

In a petition dated June 7, and addressed to the ICPC, HEDA asked for Igwe to be told return all earnings linked to the forged certificate.

If the ICPC fails to prosecute him, HEDA said it would head to the court to ensure justice is done to the society, which norms have been violated.

HEDA’s lead researchers had unravelled the scam following months of investigation of the issue. Igwe was then removed as Acting Director-General of FIIRO after several public pressure, but he still retained as a staff member as Chief Research Officer.

“We request the ICPC to prosecute Mr. Chima Igwe for presenting an attestation letter in place of a Ph.D Certificate upon which he worked and gained several promotions in the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, Lagos State and return into the government’s coffer all salaries and allowances paid to Mr. Chima Igwe within the period he worked without having the requisite educational qualification (Ph.D Certificate),” the statement added.